Tactile Writing Activities

These tactile writing activities are a fabulous way for kids to learn their letters. Having kids write letters using texture helps both their fine motor skills and letter memory retention.

Want another great activity for learning letters? Check out my learning letters through target practice post.

What is Tactile Writing?

Tactile writing is a way to use touch in learning letters.

When I was tutoring privately, I went to a lecture on dyslexia and the brain.  There were several tips I learned (I’ll add a few more at the end of the post), but today I get to tell you about using tactile writing activities to help kids learn their letters.

Tactile writing turns learning into play. Kids love to experience different textures, so letting them explore letters through the sense of touch is engaging and fun, but it also helps create pathways in their brains as they are learning.

At Meaningful Mama, my goal is to help equip you to be intentional and creative with your kids. My hope is that I can take the guesswork out of engaging with your kids in a variety of ways. Today I take the guesswork out of learning letters by providing a number of tactice writing activities.

Materials Needed for Tactile Writing

Note: The following contains Amazon affiliate links. Anything you purchase through these links goes to support the free resources I provide here at Meaningful Mama. Thank you for your support.

You will not need to purchase everything on this list. It’s a comprehensive list to help buy the materials for the variety of ideas I will provide. That said, you get to pick and choose which writing activities to entertain your kids with and therefore, which materials you might need.

• Activity Tray – Having a set of activity trays keeps set-up, containment, and clean-up easier.
• Rice
• Sand
• Tempra Paint
• Gallon Size Ziploc Bags
• Hair Gel
• Glitter
• Sand Paper Letters
• Colored Glue
• Shaving Cream

Tactile Writing Activities

I have a degree in education, so engaging my kids in learning activities was natural. It helped equip them, and they all thrived once they got to school. I know it is not as innate for everyone, which is why I want to help.

Some might argue that they have the rest of their lives to learn and be in school. Why start so young? I would say that if you make it fun, it doesn’t feel like learning. Turn things into a game, and they will want to play. If they aren’t feeling it, don’t push it. However, I have found that when I’m present and keep things light and playful, there’s no pushback. It’s a way to develop life-long learners.

With all of these letter-learning activities, you can demonstrate how to write them and/or how to write letter tools on the table. It’s great to learn letter names and sounds while introducing letters. I would say something like, “What letter is this? Good. What does B say? Can you think of a word that starts with B?” Then show them the proper way to write a B and engage in tactile practice.

• Paint Bags – Pour paint into a Ziploc bag. Seal the bags tight. You can tape it off to add an extra layer of protection. Kids can use their fingers to write their letters. Kids can use their fingers or a Q-tip for writing.
• Tactile Trays – Fill a shallow tray or jelly roll pan with a thin layer of rice, salt, or sand. Kids can use their fingers to write. The grainy texture gives “brain feedback” about how the letter feels
• Glitter Bags – Fill a Ziploc bag with hair gel, and sprinkle in some glitter. Seal it well. You can tape it off to add an extra layer of protection. Kids press and trace letters on the gel for mess-free fun.
• Shaving Cream Play – Fill a shallow tray or an outdoor table with shaving cream. Kids will use their fingers to write letters. This one is very fun! See here.
• Sandpaper Letters – Cut letters out of sandpaper or use the pre-made ones linked to above. Kids trace them with fingers.
• Glue Letters – Write a letter on cardstock with a pencil. Allow kids to trace the letter with the colored glue. Let it dry completely. Kids feel the bumps as they trace with their fingers.

More Tips for Working with Kids with Dyslexia

While the writing activities today are beneficial for all kids, I did learn this concept when I was at a seminar for dyslexia. As promised, here are some more helpful hint:

Here’s a few other tips that helps when you are teaching children with dyslexia:

1.  There is an underdeveloped connection between the left and the right sides of the brain.  Trying to help them become more ambidextrous is a good thing.  Have them work on learning to catch a ball with their non-dominant hand.  Work with them on writing with their opposite hand.  Of course, let them use the hand they favor, but try to train the other side as well.

2.  Do things that are active.  If you are teaching them to spell have them bounce up and down or catch a ball or move something from their left to right hand as they spell out a word.

3.  To develop the left-right connection, have them move their arms and legs across the body.  I would have my students spell while punching their left arm to the right side of their body and vice versa.

Note: This post was written in 2012 but was recently updated for clarity.

Want More Writing Activities for Kids?

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